I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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<Chapter 86>

 

And not long after, the High Priest who had entered the temple with Rie came out with his mouth agape.

 

“R-Rie. The examination results show you are a time ability user! Good heavens, the previous examination was truly a misjudgment…”

 

The people who had only hoped for Rie’s turn to pass quickly were shocked, while Casselik smiled with satisfaction.

 

2.

 

The appearance of a new time ability user spread rapidly throughout the Chronos Empire.

 

And at the same time, another rumor began to rise like black smoke.

 

“Did you hear? Duke Casselik has been stalking Rie and Emilia lately.”

 

“My friend’s mother’s cousin saw at a restaurant that the Duke caused a scene when Emilia was dining with another man.”

 

“Hey, that’s not even the serious part. On that rainy day last time, Duke Casselik waited in front of the Birdwell Barony, getting completely soaked in the rain, waiting for Emilia to open the door.”

 

Rumors that spread through word of mouth are naturally exaggerated.

 

The problem was that all the rumors people were talking about were true.

 

* * *

 

“Did she check the letter?”

 

“Lady Emilia confirmed it, but she threw it straight into the trash without replying.”

 

Casselik, who had returned to the castle after finishing the meeting, said nothing.

 

Bellik looked at his master who seemed broken somewhere and suppressed his desire to run away.

 

The atmosphere at the Theodore Ducal House had been as gloomy as a tomb lately.

 

Not only had Serena, who was the Duchess, colluded with dark mages, but she had escaped at the crucial moment when they had captured her.

 

In the midst of this, when it was officially revealed that Rie was a time ability user, people were saying that Casselik had carelessly replaced his wife without being prudent.

 

But Serena was Serena.

 

Bellik simply wished that Duke Casselik would return to his former self.

 

As a resolute and rational master.

 

“…Your Grace. Instead of just waiting for a reply, how about visiting Lady Emilia’s residence directly?”

 

“Emilia and Rie dislike it. I can only go if I receive permission.”

 

He can only go if he receives permission.

 

The mouths of those around him, including Bellik, fell open.

 

Duke Casselik was the ‘only’ Theodore bloodline in the Chronos Empire who could bear time ability users.

 

There was even a joke that he was the only opponent the Emperor would deliberately lose to in arguments, such was his tremendous influence.

 

Yet here he was, showing such anxiety over his former wife and child.

 

“…”

 

Bellik felt the intense gazes of the maids behind him.

 

‘Another rumor will be added today.’

 

Bellik sighed and carefully opened his mouth after watching his master’s mood.

 

“Secretly attaching people to spy on their daily lives would probably be disliked too…”

 

“It’s fine if we don’t get caught.”

 

That was true.

 

If they got caught, Theodore’s faithful subordinates would be dismissed that very day.

 

Meanwhile, though Casselik had never experienced addiction, he had recently been feeling strange withdrawal symptoms.

 

The day he met the child and Emilia at the temple.

 

When he saw those two pairs of blue eyes looking at him, he unconsciously felt an impulse to embrace them both.

 

But he couldn’t do anything. He didn’t have the right to do so.

 

“Damn, damn, damn…!”

 

“Everyone go outside and wait. Hurry!”

 

When Casselik, who had been muttering, stood up from his seat, Bellik quickly turned his head and dismissed the people.

 

And he pleaded with his hands clasped together as if praying.

 

“Your Grace. If you’re having a hard time, how about getting some sleep? I’m… very worried about you. You haven’t slept once since returning from the temple. You’ll collapse at this rate!”

 

It would be better to collapse a hundred times.

 

If only he could apologize to Emilia and Rie.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Knock knock knock.

 

Despite Bellik having dismissed everyone, there was a knocking sound and the door opened.

 

A knight approached with urgent steps and whispered.

 

“An invitation has just arrived for Lady Rie.”

 

“An invitation?”

 

“Yes. The invitation is from the Marquis’s daughter of House Rioletta, inviting Lady Rie to a regular tea time gathering of young ladies her age. Lady Rie has accepted.”

 

“…Then this would be Lady Rie’s first social activity…”

 

Something flashed through Bellik’s mind as he muttered unconsciously.

 

‘This method could work!’

 

“Y-Your Grace. Lady Rie is engaging in social activities for the first time in her life. This is an opportunity for you to make a good impression on Lady Rie!”

 

“What?”

 

“Surely it’s her first tea time with young ladies her age, so there will be areas where she’s lacking, right? So we could…”

 

Excited Bellik whispered in Casselik’s ear.

 

* * *

 

“Mom, it’s really, really okay, right?”

 

“I told you it is. Don’t you trust Mom?”

 

“Mmm. Our mom is still weak. Rie has to protect you.”

 

“Oh my, now that you’ve become a time ability user, you’ve become quite the knight.”

 

Emilia grabbed the child’s shoulders and spun her around.

 

In the full-length mirror, Rie appeared beautifully fluttering her layered yellow dress.

 

Today Rie had put considerable effort into her outfit.

 

Tremendous shoulder puffs that would crush the opponent’s spirit.

 

On her chest was a giant ribbon that only the wealthiest ‘strongest’ children could wear, attached like a medal.

 

Rie, who had even matched her shoes in yellow, looked like a chick raised in a wealthy household.

 

That’s right.

 

The Birdwell Barony was now wealthy.

 

“It’s your first day meeting friends. Can you do well?”

 

“Mmm! I asked Crown Prince Jair, and he said tea time is no big deal. He said if I just sit there, friends will come fawning over me.”

 

“That’s only possible because he’s the Crown Prince… Rie, when you meet friends, you have to greet them warmly. Understood?”

 

At Emilia’s request, Rie smiled brightly and extended her hand.

 

“Hello! I’m Rie. Nice to meet you! Want a Birdwell seal keychain?”

 

“Rie. You only give seal keychains to close friends. You can’t just hand them out, okay?”

 

“Ehhh.”

 

Currently, among young nobles, giving family seal keychains to ‘best friends’ was trending.

 

“Not ‘ehhh.’ You can only give them to close friends.”

 

“Mmm.”

 

‘Sigh, why am I so anxious.’

 

Emilia had often been ignored at banquets and tea times in the past.

 

As the carriage carrying Rie departed, her mouth went dry watching it leave.

 

* * *

 

At that time, at the Rioletta Marquis House.

 

“You understand, right? You absolutely must become friends with Rie at this tea time. Time ability users attract attention no matter what they do, and we never know when she might return to the ducal house. If you become friends with Rie, your future social life will be much easier.”

 

“Yes, Mom!”

 

Olivia, born as the precious youngest daughter of Rioletta, nodded her head.

 

Though Olivia was only six years old, she was famous among young ladies her age as quite the seasoned ‘host.’

 

She had hosted tea times twenty times.

 

The weekly regular gatherings were filled with children of high-ranking nobles.

 

In that sense, this tea time was a very important occasion.

 

She had to win Rie over to her side, staking the honor of House Rioletta.

 

But Olivia had never once made a ‘friend.’

 

That’s right.

 

All the groups that follow her are ‘subordinates’.

 

If she were the Duke’s House young lady, she would naturally have to bow down prostrate, but Rie isn’t affiliated with a Viscount’s House anyway.

 

The child with a large ribbon on her chest crossed her arms with a triumphant expression.

 

“…I don’t really like it, but she’s a Time Ability User and receives Duke Theodore’s favoritism. I need to make Rie my subordinate before she becomes more famous.”

 

Kukuk.

 

The child who snorted approached the designated seat where Rie would sit.

 

“Put that teacup we prepared last time here.”

 

Operation Make Subordinate, first step.

 

How dare! Me helping out.

 

Olivia had drilled a small hole in one teacup in preparation for this moment.

 

If someone unknowingly drank tea from that teacup, the black tea would leak through the hole and soak their dress.

 

If she helped during such an embarrassing situation, Rie would feel rescued.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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